What Kind of Training Do Welders Need?

Are you looking for a new career or want to learn a trade that is challenging? Ready to step out of the office and into a powerplant or machine shop? If this sounds like you, consider training for a career as a welder. Even though technology is advancing, there is a need for welders to use their ingenuity to manage welding, fabrication and soldering techniques. So, are you asking yourself, “How do I become a welder?”

How to Become a Welder

A popular way to prepare to become a welder is to get a formal education. However, you don’t want to learn only MIG welding or pipe welding. Discover the different skills needed to manage any welding process. An education can be attained at a trade school offering a certificate or diploma program.

What Do You Learn During a Welding Program?

You learn many welding techniques during a program at a trade school. Welding classes are interactive and led by dedicated school instructors with years of experience using welding equipment in a professional setting. You’ll get the support to pick up welding skills quickly and the firsthand technical knowledge needed in the workforce. Welding technician skills include:

Welding Tools and Professional Skills

It is important to understand and use many of the tools operated by welders. You want to know the right tools for the job, which comes with training. Much of what welders do is put classroom theory to the test in real workshops, welding real materials with different techniques.

Metal Arc Welding

Metal arc welding uses an electric arc to create heat for melting and joining metals. There are many different techniques for metal arc welding. From metal inert gas welding (MIG) and metal active gas welding (MAG) to shielded metal arc welding (SMAW, also known as stick welding)  and tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, you will learn each type of technique and better understand which to use in specific situations.

Understanding Drawings, Symbols and Metal Characteristics

Course curriculum includes learning how to interpret blueprints, build plans and symbols commonly used to direct welders through projects. Reading and understanding blueprints and their symbols can help produce better results. When it comes to welding blueprints, you can look at front, top or right-side views. There are also a variety of symbols used on the blueprints. Whether following arrows that describe the direction of a weld or using letters that reference different types of welds, you will learn how to read blueprints and decipher symbols during a welding program at a trade school.

You will also learn about the distinctive characteristics of metal, including metaling point, ductility, electrical conductivity and strength. Each metal responds differently to heat, allowing different uses and applications. For example, copper is used because of its electrical conductivity, corrosion and wear resistance while cast iron has low carbon steel and is easier for welding. During a course, you will also learn the difference between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC).

Pipe Welding

Pipe welding is a unique welding technique that uses MIG welding and TIG welding. During pipe welding coursework, you will learn about the different types of pipe material, diameter and thickness, welding location and direction, welding quality required, and, most importantly, how to stay safe. During a welding program, you be guided by experienced instructors.

Soldering

Soldering involves the joining of different types of metal using melting solder. Commonly used metals are tin and lead melted into hot iron. When the iron cools, it creates a strong electrical bond. You will learn soldering techniques to join circuit boards and pipe joints with hands-on experience gained in a welding program at a trade school.

Fitting & Fabrication

Some of the techniques you will learn during a welding program include fitting and fabrication. This includes tube bending, cutting, beveling, and welding pipe components. In manufacturing, fabrication is used to create components using raw materials and welding techniques rather than assembling the product from ready-made parts.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know what kind of training a welder needs, it is time to learn more about MIAT College of Technology’s Welding programs. Learn a trade where you can use your hands. If you enjoy creating components from scratch or soldering circuit boards, becoming a welder may be the right career path for you.

Want to learn more about the welding programs at MIAT? The Welding Certificate Program and Welding Diploma Program at MIAT College of Technology provides the hands-on training, practical experience and industry support it takes to pursue a career.

Welding Certificate Program

Welding training is a great investment in your future. Graduates of MIAT College of Technology’s Welding certificate program are prepared to pursue entry-level careers in different settings, including manufacturing, construction and services.

Welding Diploma Program

MIAT College of Technology trains Welding students in the trends and practices needed to be successful in a career. By earning an advanced welding diploma, graduates are ready to pursue career opportunities.

To learn more about the Welding programs and explore whether MIAT is right for you, fill out the form on this page.

UTI and MIAT are educational institutions and cannot guarantee employment or salary. For program outcome information and other disclosures, visit www.uti.edu/disclosures.